Combined tray and doily



11g 19 1952 J. H. MORRIS, JR

COMBINED TRAY AND DOILY Filed Oct. 16, 1950 ATTORNEY.

r. J d Am, mR. NR E O V mM. H H .P E 5 c. 5 4 2 /o Mzz W f /xvf ,7mm l JI M m ."v Io 2 E NK /0 2 n u 4 Patented Aug. 19, A1952 y `.zomos COMBINED TRAY AND DoILY Joseph H. Morris, Jr., Jackson, Miss.

Application October 16, 1950, Serial No. 190,388

3 Claims. l

The present invention relates to a combined tray and doily.

In cafeteras, restaurants, or in any place where food is served it is customary to have a tray having an upstanding flange on all four sides. In trays of this type it is necessary for a waiter or waitress to bring the food on a tray to atable and then remove each article on the tray -to a table. All of this takes time that would otherwise be utilized in serving other patrons.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tray having one side open.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a tray having one open side to eX- pedite the removal of articles from a tray.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a doily having upstanding flanges along one edge.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of means along one edge of a doily for forming an upstanding ange.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a gripping means on a doily.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a doily blank that may be compactly packed flat in packages.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a doily that may be made of any suitable material.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combined tray and doily.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the doily being removed from a tray and onto a table.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a doily blank.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a doily showing the edge folded for packaging, the body of the doily being fragmentary.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I represents a tray, and I I a doily, the tray having three hanged sides I2 and an open side I3, which may have a knife edge. The three flanged sides are vertical or disposed at an angle to the base. The doily may be made of any suitable material such as paper, and of any suitable size, shape or thickness. The doily adjacent the longitudinal edge I4 is provided with score lines I5, I6 and II, and midway the edges I8 and I9, and disposed inwardly are cuts 20 that provide a flap 2 I. It is to be noted that the transverse width between score lines I and I6 is of greater width than the width between score lines IB and II for a purpose to be later explained. The doily blank is packaged in packages of twenty-live, fty or one hundred, and as shown in Figure 4 the doily is folded so that one face of the side 22 lies flat against 25l one face of the side 23 against one face of side 22 and portion 24 under 25, one face of ap 2I fiat against 25, the portion 25 serving as the area of the doily upon which dishes and the like are positioned.

When the doily is to be used with the tray IIl as shown in the drawing, a fold is made by creasing along line I1 which forms the side 22. A fold is then made by creasing along score line I6 and along score line I5 which forms side 23, the portion 24 between the edge I4 and the score line I5 forming a flap that is positioned under the body portion 25 and forms a reinforcing means for side walls 22 and 23. When 4the folds are made by creasing along score lines I5, I6 and I1, the ap 2I is free, as shown in Figure 1 and in association with sides 22 and 23, forms the fourth side of tray I0. The difference in width of side 23 to side 22 permits the side 23 to act as a brace for the sides of the doily that forms the fourth side for a tray.

As shown in Figure 2, the tray I0 is placed on the top of a table 2B, the portion 25 of the doily having articles positioned thereon. The doily Il is shown in the process of being removed from the tray, the tab 2| being held down on the table top by the ngers of one hand while the other hand pulls the tray away from the doily, thus separating the doily from the tray with all of the articles on the doily.

From the above it can be seen that a complete setting for one having all the necessary dishes with food, vessels containing liquids, and implements for handling food may properly be positioned on a doily in a tray, the doily removed `from the tray without disturbing any of the articles on the doily thus saving considerable time of a waiter or waitress.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be noted that these are by way of example rather than by way of limitations and that the invention is to be defined by the attendant claims which should be given a scope as broad as is consistent with the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a tray and a disposable tray section, said tray having an open side, spaced flexible means on one end of said disposable tray section forming an interrupted upstanding flange, and means between said rst named means for holding said disposable section against movement of said tray.

2. In combination, a tray and a disposable tray section, said tray having an open side, spaced exible means on one side of said disposable tray forming a closure for the open side of said tray, means between said exible means for holding said disposable section against a desired surface.

3. In combination, a tray and a disposable tray covering, said tray having one open side, said tray covering having one raised side, said raised side of said covering forming a closure for the open side of said tray, iiexible portions on said tray covering for reinforcing said raised side, and means for holding said tray covering against movement of said tray.

JOSEPH H. MORRIS, JR.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,053,114 Seaberg Feb. 11, 1913 1,316,729 Lawrence Sept. 23, 1919 1,440,979 Gemmel Jan. 2, 1923 1,745,606 Densmore et al. Feb. 4, 1930 1,959,134 Martin May 15, 1934 2,369,728 Farkas Feb. 20, 1945 V2,552,297 Stanley May 8, 1951 

